He Is Risen!

This is a special time of year to reflect on the wonderful story of Easter.  Growing up, our children were always taught, yes, the Easter bunny will bring baskets at Easter and that is so cool.  We would dye eggs every year, have egg hunts in the back yard or we would go to an Easter egg hunt.  I have all kinds of Easter decorations, lots of bunnies and Easter eggs and spring decorations.  There was lots of excitement in the air for those fun things to be had, but we always made sure that our kids knew it was not about the bunny.

Easter is about the trial, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all things He went through so that those believing in Him will be saved and live in everlasting life.  The following video presents the price paid by Jesus for our redemption.  (Click the following link if you cannot see it on your tablet or smartphone, "Redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb")

The decorations that mean the most to me are the clay figurines of Jesus as he came out of the tomb on Easter morning.

The stone was rolled away! Mary, Jesus mother, and Mary Magdalene are outside of the tomb.  Roman guards are standing to the side and there also stands an angel.  At the top of the hill is an empty cross, that says "He Is Risen!"

It was on a shopping trip to Hobby Lobby with my two girls that I found these favorite Easter pieces.  They are nothing fancy, but they say all about Easter that we need to know.

There is another superb video below that I hope you all take time to watch.  It also describes what Jesus went through.  Listen for the part about Peter denying he even knows Jesus, just as many in our world do today.  The message of Easter, again, is that by His death we can be forgiven if we believe in Him.  He is alive for me and my family.  He is alive for you too, if you believe in Him.  For those of you who cannot see it on your tablets or smartphones because they need to be equipped for flash videos, click the following link, He's Alive!

 

The truth of scripture is something we took very seriously in our home.  The Bible counsels us to teach them diligently to your children, and talk of them when you sit in your home, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise (Deuteronomy 6:7).  Sometimes, as adults grow older, it is harder for them to accept the simplicity of the gospel.  That is why the Lord counsels us to "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

One thing I always remember as Easter comes around is that we, almost every year, had an Easter program at church.   For many years I had the privilege of directing the children's program which usually had many songs in it as well as speaking parts.  I particularly remember one year we were serving in a country church in Virginia.  There was a little girl in the choir and her name was Jenny. Her one line for the program was the scripture, "He is not here, for He is risen as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:6)  That was over 25 years ago and I will never forget the country twang, but the genuine sincerity with which Jenny would say her verse.  You see children just believe.

The thrill I see as a mom is that both my daughters and my son and His wife decorate with much emphasis on the cross of Christ.  We sing the old hymns like "The Old Rugged Cross" & "He Arose", along with many others.

Yes the "Easter Mantle" one of my daughters put up in her home reminds everyone entering her home where her and her family's heart is.  Make sure family, friends and guests always see Christ in your life and sense His presence in your home.  That can be a great witness for the One who gave His life for us!

Thank you all for the opportunity to share this Easter message with you.  May the Lord guide you and keep you and your family all the rest of your days.